She turns on her heel, movements tight to avoid any clomping. Kneeling quickly, she holds out her hands to intercept any further head-to-boot damage.

"If that is what happened, there's a way of breakin' the spell. In the story, the princess jus' had t'kiss the frog an' he was restored t'his human form."

Well. There's also the version where the princess throws the frog across the room into a wall, but Kate does little more than purse her lips in acknowledgment of that option.

She meets the frog's eyes.

Blue on gold.

Determination on frenzy.


She sets her jaw.




"I'm gonna go fetch Marian."

And with that, she stands.